Improvement in balloons



W. BECKLEY.

BALLOON.

Patented July 1'7, 1877.

INVENTUB a w|TNEssEs= Aonnevs.

N. PErERs, PHOTO-LITH-OGRAFNER. WASHiNGToN, p. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WASHINGTON BEGKLEY, oF L oUIsA, KENTUCKY, AssIGNoR 'ro HIMSFLF, DAVID W. GARRFD, AND MILLARD F. GARRED, oF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BALLOONS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,136, dated July 17, 1877 application led June 4,1877.

' out the use of sand or other ballast, adapting them for use in aerial navigation, in raising stone and brick in erecting high buildings, and for various other purposes.

The invention consists in the mode of controlling the descent and ascent of balloons and other'vessels floating in Vthe air by the buoyancy of gas, by the compression and expansion of the gas contained within said balloons or vessels, and in the Vcombination of the cylinders, one or more, provided with the valves opening inward, and the valves opening outward, and the condenser provided with the valve opening inward, with each other, to adapt them to be applied to a balloon for regu- -ulating the volume of Ithe gas contained in said balloon to control its buoyancy, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents the base of a balloon or other vessel of any shape or size to be raised into or carried through the air by the buoyancy of gas. v

To the base or platform A are attached one, two, or more cylinders, B, which project into the balloon, and within which work the pistons C.

The rods of the pistons C are pivoted to a lever, D, or other suitable means for operating them.

With the side of the upperpart of the cylinders B is connected a short pipe, E, with the outer end of which is connected a valvechest, F, provided with a valve, f', opening inward.

Withl the upper end of the cylinders B is connected a valve-chest, Gr, provided with a valve, g', opening outward.

With the upper end of the cylinders B is A connected a strong vessel, H, called by me a In the top of the condenser His placed a v valve, h1, opening inward, and the stemof which is connected with a lever, h2, so that by operating the said lever h -the valve h1 may be opened against the pressure of the compressed gas, to allow the gas to escape into the balloon. The levert2 should be provided with a cord extending down to the basket or car of the balloon, to enable it to be conveniently operated.

The balloon should have a valve in its top in the usual way, to enable the gas to be discharged in the usual way should anything prevent the working of the gas-compressing mechanism.

I do not wish to limit myself to the gascompressing mechanism herein described, as any apparatus that will compress the gas and allow it to expand, when required, may be used.

With this construction the balloon is filled with sufficient gas to raise and carry the desired' weight. When the balloonist Wishes to descend he operates the mechanism and compresses the gas into the condenser until the specific gravity of the balloon is, greater than that of the air in which it floats, and it descends. Should the balloonist wish to check or stop his descent he opens the valve h1, and allows enough gas to escape from the condenser H into the balloon to effect his purpose, so that he can ascend or descend any desired number of times without losing any gas, and without throwing out any ballast.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tov secure by Letters Patent- Y 1. The mode of controlling the descent and ascent of balloons and other vessels iioating them to be applied to a balloon for regulating the volume of the gas contained in said balloon to control its buoyancy, substantially as herein shown and described.

WASHINGTON BECKLEY.

Y Witnesses:

DANIEL VINsoN, A. J. GABBED. 

